Sista Connections trio Ruby, Grace and Lilly repurpose shoes for remote communities

THREE Hastings Secondary College Sista Connections students have won the 2026 TCS (TATA Consultancy Services) Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge for Schools Grand Final.

The GoIT Challenge encourages students to think creatively and develop technology-based solutions to real-world problems.

Ruby Richardson (Year 9), Grace Morris (Year 10) and Lilly Boss (Year 8) from Port Macquarie Campus were selected as state finalists after first submitting a video explaining their concept before being interviewed by a judging panel.

Over the weekend 28-30 August in Sydney, the three students participated in VIP events, promoting their concept, and taking part in a mini marathon before learning they had won the $5000 prize awarded to the winning high school team.

“Run. Repurpose. Reach is exactly what it sounds like,” Lilly Boss said.

“Runners buy shoes for a marathon. Once the race is done, if the shoes are still in good shape, they donate them to us.

“With the support of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF), we then pass those shoes on to people in need and those who’d like to get into running themselves.”

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) distributes the often high-quality shoes to regional and remote communities and towns, making the girls’ winning concept a reality.

“The team was stoked,” Grace Morris said

“Winning after all the work we’d put in felt incredible.

“We’re really proud of ourselves and of what it means for the Sista Connections program.”

The trio were mentored and supported by leader of Aboriginal Education, Sara-Jane Oakeshott and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Project Officer, Ryland O’Connell.

“Communication, teamwork, and a competitive nature were their team strengths,” Ryland O’Connell said.

”A couple of months earlier, these girls had shown no interest in STEM.

“Now they’ve won a major competition.”

By Pauline CAIN